2024 Top strategies to build engaging web3 Discord communities

Louisa Lu

Dec 3, 2024 • 7 min read

Ever wondered what really gets a community buzzing with activity? Setting up a Discord server is just the first step —it's all about sparking meaningful interactions among members in a sustainable way, especially for most of the Web3 communities where growth is easy but engagement is hard. After checking out many top Web3 Discord servers, we've picked up some valuable insights on what actually boosts engagement and keeps new members sticking around.

Overall Findings on how to build web3 Discord

We found that most hype and sudden engagement in Discord communities are related to giveaways. However, there's a big difference between traditional giveaways and smarter ones. Traditional giveaways, like cash prizes during campaigns (think spring campaigns where you give money away), tend to spike activity for just 1-2 days before community members lose interest. So, they're not super effective for long-term engagement or improving server performance.

On the flip side, we've really seen a second coming of NFT giveaways, especially free NFT mints that generate loyalty. Everyone loves a giveaway, and when it's tied to a meaningful message—fitting both culturally and as an educational thing—it resonates much more with the community. These smart giveaways can keep your Discord community buzzing and help spread your project's message effectively.

Another solid way to boost server engagement is when people naturally start talking about something interesting. Sometimes a member kicks off a conversation that jives with a lot of people, leading to lively discussions. Other times, it's members picking each other's brains and sharing trade knowledge—like we see in communities such as Design Buddies. Shared frustrations over common issues, or even a bit of FUDding, can also spark active participation. These organic interactions are gold for building a thriving Discord community.

Giveaways

Traditional Giveaways: Short-Lived Engagement

Traditional giveaway sprints where you simply hand out money aren't that effective for sustained engagement. We've noticed that activity spikes from these campaigns decay exponentially, with a half-life of just one day. Even in the best cases, the heightened activity lasts only 2-3 days before community members lose interest. So, they're not the best strategy for long-term growth in your Discord server.

NFT Giveaways: Building Loyalty and Engagement

NFT giveaways are great, and there are different ways to use them to boost engagement:

1. Earning NFTs Through Meaningful Participation

First, people need to earn these NFTs. Just like before, members engage with the community, earn a role, and then get whitelisted for a free mint. What's new is that the project itself doesn't have to be an NFT project; the NFT can be a souvenir or a special collection that doesn't necessarily have monetary value. Plus, with projects using our hype engine, you're no longer requiring users to grind endlessly or have to always be on for live community events. They can participate in more meaningful ways to get whitelisted. This new technology allows you to build much better, long-lasting discord servers.

2. Product-Based NFTs as Educational Tools

Second, NFTs are now becoming about the product itself. For example, if you're a data privacy company, you can create an NFT related to data privacy and give it to your users. This serves as a great educational experience. Data has shown that people are eager to earn something, even if it doesn't have monetary value. It's about offering value and enriching the user experience, which boosts engagement and loyalty.

Third, distributing POAPs (Proof of Attendance Protocol tokens) related to events can significantly boost engagement. We have a project that gives out tokens to people who watch them play in tournaments, and this has been super successful in getting people to learn about the project. But of course, the event needs to be really cool. Hosting exciting community events can generate a lot of interest and participation, which reflects positively on your project. So, investing in memorable events can pay off big time in building a thriving Discord community.

Tournaments

Tournaments can be incredibly effective for boosting engagement, but the key element is to have something famous associated with them. Here are three ways to leverage tournaments to enhance your Discord community's activity.

1. Hosting Tournaments of Famous Games

One effective strategy is to host a tournament of a famous game that everyone knows, targeting a specific region. For example, some communities organize PUBG tournaments in India, and their servers remain booming for months until the end of the tournament. By choosing a popular game with a dedicated fan base, you can attract a large number of participants and keep your Discord server active and engaged for an extended period.

2. Participating in Prestigious Tournaments Yourself

Another approach is to participate in high-profile tournaments yourself. While this might not be feasible for everyone, if you have a sports league or enough resources to build one, it's one of the best organic ways to get your fans engaged. By being part of a famous game and its tournaments, you can draw attention to your community and provide your fans with exciting content to rally around.

3. Hosting Tournaments for Your Established Game as regular Community Events

If you have a well-established game of your own, hosting tournaments can also generate great engagement. By organizing competitive events around your game, you encourage players to participate actively and foster a sense of community. This not only boosts activity on your Discord server but also promotes your game and strengthens loyalty among your players.

Hackathons

If you're working on a project that involves developers, hosting a hackathon is a fantastic way to boost engagement. Focus on universities by offering monetary prizes, or consider hosting a side event during one of the major conferences. The key is not just to attract participants but to retain these users after the event is over. By engaging developers through hackathons, you can build a dedicated community around your project, enhancing user retention and fostering long-term involvement in your Discord server.

Using Trivia Bots to Boost Engagement

Another fun way to get your community interacting is by using a trivia bot on your Discord server. Choose a version where members can asynchronously chat about trivia questions. What happens is that everyone starts responding to each other's messages, sparking conversations that go beyond just answering the questions. After the trivia is over, people often stick around and continue chatting with each other. This not only boosts immediate engagement but also helps build stronger connections among community members, making your Discord server a more lively and welcoming place.

Organic Ways to Increase Engagement

Organic engagement can be a game-changer for your Discord community, often resulting in 3-4 times more interaction. This typically happens when someone starts a conversation, and everyone else piles in, leading to more and more chatting. These spontaneous interactions can significantly boost server performance and create a thriving Discord community.

The first type of organic engagement occurs when someone shares something really interesting, and a couple of other community members start chatting. All of a sudden, there's something cool going on in the server. It just takes one person to take the time to share something nice. Usually, someone from the team develops this habit, encouraging existing members to join in. This kind of interaction enhances user behavior positively and fosters meaningful discussions.

2. Foster a Helping Community by Letting Member Answer Questions

The second type is when everyone rallies to help someone out. This usually happens in career development channels or dedicated feedback channels—topics that everyone can relate to. These conversations are personal in nature and focus more on attitude rather than objective goals. People feel they can contribute and help, and they'll do it if the server environment is supportive. This not only increases engagement but also strengthens the bonds among community members.

3. Discuss Shared Concerns and Product Features

The third type of organic engagement arises when the community is concerned about a feature or product. This typically happens due to some project issues or shared difficulties. Maybe there's a new push in terms of project updates, and people have the same concerns. These discussions can take place in dedicated channels focused on specific topics. Addressing these concerns openly fosters transparency and shows that the team values member insights, which can significantly improve user retention.

Building a thriving Discord community isn't just about attracting new members; it's about effective server management and creating an environment where members feel valued and engaged. Offering early access to new features or project updates can incentivize participation and make members feel like insiders. As your Discord server grows into a larger server, maintaining server performance and optimizing server settings become crucial. By focusing on meaningful interactions, smart engagement strategies, and open communication, you can turn your Discord server into a bustling hub that keeps members joining and actively participating.